Uniting for peace resolution

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia: More than 100 Muslim scholars from around the world meeting Wednesday in the Saudi holy city of Mecca issued an urgent appeal for peace in Afghanistan as they ended a two-day conference. "The solution to the cause of the Muslim Afghani must particularly go through mutual understanding and direct peaceful negotiations," read the closing declaration. "Reconciling between battling Muslims is one of the greatest and most honoured acts of worship," it said. The international gathering, which focused on prospects for peace in Afghanistan, was sponsored by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, based in nearby Jeddah. Yousef al-Othaimeen, the head of the 57-member pan-Islamic organisation, ended the meeting by urging a ceasefire for Afghanistan. "The OIC calls on all parties to observe a truce, respect a ceasefire and enter into direct negotiations," he told reporters at the close of the conference. The scholars were received on Wednesday by Saudi King Salman, who … [Read more...] about Muslim scholars plead for peace in Afghanistan

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has issued many controversial policies and statements. In terms of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the United States has shifted to stronger support for Israel, most notably expressed by the relocation of US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Support for Israel was represented specifically in the United Nations Security Council. In a recent meeting, US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley rigorously maneuvered to block a draft resolution submitted by Kuwait, which pleaded for international protection for Palestinians in Gaza after the decision to relocate the US embassy. US vetoed the resolution and proposed a revised resolution which implied heavy blame on Hamas for the surge of violence between Israeli official authorities and Palestinian protesters on the day of US’ embassy opening in Jerusalem. Kuwait had pleaded for greater promotion of peace and protection for the Palestinians instead of excessive use of force. … [Read more...] about Using the best of Security Council membership for Palestine-Israel conflict

Malacañang on Saturday said it welcomed the planned dialogue between United States (US) President Donald Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un, amid the tensions between the two countries on the Korean peninsula. In a press conference in Iloilo, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte was optimistic that the two leaders would come up with a “peaceful resolution” to put an end to the conflict. “We welcome this dialogue between the head of North Korea and President Trump. Si President Duterte po… paulit-ulit po niyang sinasabi na wala pong interest na magkaroon ng giyera dito sa ating rehiyon (President Duterte… has repeatedly said he has no interest to have war in the region),” Roque said. “At ngayong mag-uusap po sila, ito po’y dahilan para magalak naman ang Presidente at nagbibigay ng pag-asa na itong kontrobersiya ng Korean Peninsula ay mabibigyan ng mapayapang solusyon (And now that they [Trump and Kim] … [Read more...] about Palace hopes for peaceful end of Korean conflict

BEIJING: China warned the United States on Thursday that everyone would be harmed if President Donald Trump launches a trade war as official figures showed the Asian power maintained a robust trade surplus with the US. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi issued the stern message as the Trump administration geared up to formally introduce steel and aluminum tariffs as early as Thursday despite global concerns. “Choosing a trade war is surely the wrong prescription, in the end you will only hurt others and yourself,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. “China will certainly make an appropriate and necessary response,” Wang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the Communist Party’s annual parliamentary session. On Wednesday, at the World Trade Organization, China led a group of 18 members urging Trump to scrap the planned tariffs, with its representative saying the levies would pose a systemic threat to the rules-based global trading system. US imports … [Read more...] about China ready for trade war as Trump tariffs loom

A Chinese employee watches red hot steel at a steel plant in Zouping in China's eastern Shandong province, March 5, 2018. (AFP photo) BEIJING - China warned the United States on Thursday that everyone will be harmed if President Donald Trump launches a trade war, as official figures showed the Asian power maintained a robust trade surplus with the US. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi issued the stern message as the Trump administration geared up to formally introduce steel and aluminium tariffs as early as Thursday despite global concerns. "Choosing a trade war is surely the wrong prescription, in the end you will only hurt others and yourself," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. "China will certainly make an appropriate and necessary response," Wang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the Communist Party's annual parliamentary session. On Wednesday, at the World Trade Organization, China led a group of 18 members urging Trump to scrap the planned tariffs, with its … [Read more...] about China says ready for trade war as Trump tariffs loom